The Farmers Jury will give the verdict after giving adequate hearing from specialist witness.

Steering Committee:

The idea of Farmers Jury was discussed in two separate meetings held in Dharwad (on June 6, 2009) and in Bangalore (July 16, 2009). Women farmers, Leaders from Farmers Organisations, Representatives of Consumer Organisation, Scientists, academicians’ media representatives and Civil Society Organisations actively participated in the meeting. They endorsed the idea of Raita Teerpu in Karnataka.

From this larger group, a steering Committee was formed to take decisions on Farmers Jury. The steering committee has following responsibilities.

To oversee the process of Farmers Jury.

Selection and finalization of farmers for the Jury.

Setting up criteria to select Farmers.

Identifying and finalizing specialist witness.

Finalizing Stakeholders for the Farmers Jury.

To deliberate and finalize the process towards successful process of Farmers Jury.

To provide necessary inputs, suggestions and recommendations to strengthen the process.

1. Anandateertha Pyati, Senior Reporter, Prajavani
No. 1-39/20, Opposite District Court Complex, Gulbarga – 585 102
Cell: 9448240676,
Email: anpyatee@gmail.comWith over ten years of journalism experience, Mr Pyati is currently the Senior Reporter with Karnataka’s oldest and leading daily Prajavani. He has traveled intensely in the state to write articles on farming and rural life. Collection of these articles in published in the book titled ‘Shatashrungada Salinalli’. He has co-authored (with G. Krishna Prasad ) a book on ten steps towards organic farming.

2. Chanabasappa Shivappa Kombali,President, Natural Resources Development
Association
Kakol, Ranebennur Taluk, Haveri District
Cell : 9845890411Winner of the State Award as Krushi Pandit [Farming Expert], Chanabasappa Shivappa Kombli is currently the District Coordinator of the Karnataka Government’s Organic Mission. He gave a new dimension to water conservation, when he started recharging open wells. In his village. He mobilized his villagers and brought water sovereignty to his village Kakol by repeated voluntary works (shramadan) towards desilting, afforestation and rain water harvesting. Now he spends a lot of his time in creating awareness on water harvesting across Karnataka through various activities. Founder President of Natural Resources Development Society, he set up this organisation to extend the activities related to environmental education among children, rainwater harvesting and afforestation and spread water awareness in his and the neighbouring villages.

3. Dr. N. Devakumar, Prof of Agronomy, AICRP on Underutilised Crops, MRS
Hebbal, Bangalore - 560 024,
Cell : 9480037870, Email : ndevakumar@yahoo.comIs one of the pro farmer scientists in the field of Agricultural Research. Earlier he was in charge of Organic Farming Institute at Shimoga. He was instrumental in growing 80 traditional paddy varieties on the research farm and distribution of these varieties among farmers free of cost. He also initiated research into the organic farming practices and its results. He is a very innovative researcher, with concern for organic farming and traditional varieties. Now he is working on millets and underutilized crops in the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore.

4. Dr. L.G. Hiregoudar, Head, K.H. Patil KVK,
Hulkoti, Gadag – 582 205
Ph: 9448358772, Email: khpatil_kvk_hulkoti@yahoo.com, laxs@gmail.comWith a Masters degree in agriculture from the Univesity of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad Dr Hiregoudar did his doctoral studies at Indian Agricultural Research Institute. Dr. Hiregoudar is admired for his simplicity, perfection and more importantly his pro-farmer approach. He joined K.H. Patil KVK as scientist in 1985. At present as the head of the institution he is leading many of its pro-farmer activities. He has successfully initiated activities related to organic farming, soil and water conservation, Alternate Land Use Systems, transfer of technology for livelihood improvement and Micro-Finance. The KVK has facilitated direct marketing from farmers to consumers by organizing farmer bazaars once a week in Hulkoti and Gadag. Vivekapatha, a programme for Overall Rural Development is an innovative Project by KVK Hulkoti.

5. Dr. Prakash Bhat, Bayalu’
19, Hoysala Nagar, Haliyal Road, Dharwad
Ph: 0836 –2776747, 9008452447, Email:bhatps@gmail.comJoined Baif Institute of Rural Development after completing graduation in Veterinary Sciences. A person who has a great passion for rural development, Dr. Bhat shouldered different responsibilities of the organisation effectively for more than 25 years. He stresses on community mobilization in his activities. He has successfully coordinated various rural development initiatives of BAIF, particularly those related to sustainable agriculture and livelihood. He has been exploring ways to bring about sustainability in rural life through self-reliance and self-esteem. To work on this theme, he has taken off from BAIF for two years. Dr. Bhat is a resource person for soil and water conservation awareness programs and activities. Dr. Bhat has passion for Yakshagana, a form of Karnataka’s folklore. He has performed and also taught this folk form.

6. Gopi Krishna
225, Tilakwadi, LV Desai Compound, Near 2nd Railway Gate, Belgaum – 590 006
Cell: 9448132609, Tel: 0831-2421609, Email: gopi.krishna50@yahoo.com
website : www.mitan.inTrained in community deveopment from the premier Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, Gopi Krishna worked with NGO INGRID in Raichur district for several years. Later he had an illustrious career working as an Projects Officer in OXFAM, and as consultant with DFID, PLAN-INTERNATIONAL and other international agencies. His interests took him to work with traditional artisans like Coarse wool weavers, leather workers and those who work with wool/ and natural fiber. Presently he is working in rural areas of Belgaum with shepherds helping them to add value to their produce. He has been instrumental in building the capacities of the villagers who are developing their own products of high quality and they are exporting these products. He represents the Shepherd community form the North Karnataka in the steering committee.

7. Subbanna S. Biradar, Director, Bayalu Seeme Rural Development Society (BSRDS)
Plot No. 68, J.R. Nagar, Near Quadri Chowk, Aland Road, Gulbarga – 585 101
Cell : 9972157413, Email: bsrdsglb@rediffmail.com, bsrdsglb@gmail.comTrained in Social Work, Mr Biradar has worked extensively in the NGO sector for the past 15 years. From literacy campaign to health his experience is diverse and is closely linked to the communities. He has experience of working in dry land farming in Bijapur district. His keen interest in working with agricultural issues has given a new perspective to his vision of rural development. At present he is the Director of an NGO called Bayalu Seeme Rural Development Society (BSRDS),in Gulbarga.

8. Vishvanath Patil Kouthabi, President, Karnataka Rajya Raita Sangha
Koutha B, Santhapur, Bidar – 585 421 Cell: 9341084287A farmer from the dry land region in Bidar. Mr Patil is currently the District President of the Karnataka Rajya Raita Sangha [KRRS] the largest farmers movement of Karnataka. He was a school teacher in the early part of his working career. While teaching he got involved with the Raitha Sangha and after retirement he has taken the responsibility of organizing Raitha Sangha in Bidar district.

9. Santhosh KoulagiSanthosh a farmer or an intellectual who is working for farmer and agricultural issues. It is very difficult to categorize him in any one of the above boxes. From his childhood he has had a valuable exposure to Gandhian ideology due to his parents being Sarvodaya workers. He was in charge of the farm near Melukote. Inspired by Masanobu Fukuoka, Santhosh translated his book ONE STRAW REVOLUTION into Kannada (Ondue Hullinna Kranti). The translation is so powerful that, it has become a bible for organic farmers in Karnataka and it has seen the tenth edition, and a record number of copies being sold in Kannada. Presently he lives in a village near Melukote and works on various issues related to agriculture.

10.
Smt. Sunanda Jayaram, KRRS, BangaloreAn extraordinarly dynamic and committed farmers leader from Mandya in Karnataka, Ms Sunandamma once headed the KRRS’s State Women Farmers’ Wing and lead several struggles for the cause of farmers in Karnataka. She has also proved as a model people representative during her tenure as a ZP member in Mandya. District. At present she is involved in the activities of the National Alliance for People’s Movement’s Karnataka chapter. She is also an active member of Cauvery Family; comprising of farmers’ representatives from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu states for the peaceful resolution of Cauvery water dispute which is considred an extraordinary initiative to find peace in a political atmosphere of violence and turbulence...

11. Sri. Basavaraj SanteshiverA farmer scientist deeply involved in organic farming in Satneshivara village, Hassan District Karnataka Mr Santeshivar is practicing and conducting various farm experiments in his mixed farm comprising of crops like coconut, banana etc. and is regularly exchanging his experience with fellow farmers through writing and meetings at a farmers group devoted to organic cultivation in Hassan. Currently, he is a member of Government of Karnataka’s Organic Mission.

12. Sri. Kuruburu Shantha Kumar,Convenor, Federation of Farmers' Association of KarnatakaA farmer leader from Chamarajnagar, fighting for the cause of sugar cane cultivators in Karnataka, he has successfully organized several struggles of sugarcane growers and lead many delegations to governments both at the national as well as state levels for pressing the demands of sugarcane farmers. Currently he is the President of Karnataka State Sugarcane Growers Association, Convener, Federation of Farmers’ Association of Karnataka. He is also publishing a weekly farm journal called Raitha Dhwani in Kannada and has recently brought out a monograph called “Sihi Beledavana Kahi Balu” highlighting the problems of sugarcane cultivators in Karnataka.

13.
Sri. Y.G. Muralidhar, CREAT, BangaloreAn activist. Actively involved in Consumer Rights moment and Right to Information, Bangalore.A consumers’ right activist and convener of Bangalore based Consumer Right Education and Awareness Trust (CREAT) that provides legal consultancy and technical guidance on all aspects of problems / issues related to consumers in Karnataka. The CREAT is conducting discussions, dialogue and meeting regularly on consumer issues as well as on various provisions under RTI Act.

14. Dr. ChanneshAn agriculture scientist who graduated from UAS Bangalore specialized (Ph.D) in Soil Science Dr Channesh has a very wide experience of working in Karnataka Vijnana Parishad, Kannada University, Hampi and Mount Carmel College, Bangalore. Currently he is working as Assistant Professor and Subject Matter Specialist in KVK Chintamani. He is credited with a number of publications both scientific and popular on soil science, biodiversity and organic farming.

15. Sri. P Babu, ICRA, BangaloreP. Babu has been associated with ICRA, a civil society organisation working on sustainable organic farming in Karnataka for more than two decades. ICRA has been working with more than 5000 small and very small rain fed farmers in various agro-ecological regions of Karnataka, focusing on evolving context specific sustainable organic practices with essential technical support. Farmers experimental groups called ‘Prayog Parivar, under ICRA’s guidance have been working in developing organic management practices in dozens of dry land crops and vegetables, there by achieving record yield and whole farm productivity. ICRA has been conducting state level trainings for the past two decades on different trends/aspects of sustainable organic agriculture including permaculture, Natuco farming, Bio-dynamic agriculture and there by facilitated hundreds of farmers in different regions of Karnataka to adopt these methods. ICRA is involved with ongoing action research studies on food security, agricultural labour and NREGA, Farmers’ suicide, land degradation, mixed cropping etc in Karnataka. ICRA is one of the leading publishers on sustainable organic farming related Kannada literature, including the bi-monthly magazine Sahaja Saguvali. Econet, the first ever organic farmer-consumer network in South India was initiated by ICRA in 1994 ICRA has been closely associated with various national networks like OFAI, SAGE, BDAI etc, right from their inception

16. P V Satheesh, Director, Deccan Development SocietyP V Satheesh has been working for the last 25 years with about 5000 dalit women farmers on the issues of food and seed sovereignty, autonomous community controlled market and media, autonomous local healthcare systems, relevant education and such issues. He is known internationally for his work on food sovereignty, fight against genetic engineering and community media. He is the convenor of a number of national and international networks such as South Against Genetic Engineering [SAGE], AP Alliance for Food Sovereignty[APAFS], Alliance South Asia Food Sovereignty [AFSA] and Alliance for Democratisation of Agricultural Research in South Asia [ADARSA]. Till recently he was the Chair of the international organization GRAIN. He is also a development filmmaker and writer and has dozens of films and books against his name.

17. Anitha Pailoor,119, 1st main, 4th cross, Narayanapur, Dharwad – 580 008
Ph: 0836 – 2444736, Cell: 9448410077, Email: anithapailoor@gmail.com Currently the Chair of Centre for Agricultural Media, Anitha has been Freelancing in Kannada and English on development issues. She studied the impact of community seed banks on the livelihood of farmers in Karnataka under National Foundation for India’s media fellowship. She has been involved in social studies on developmental issues including water, agriculture and environment.

Since 2001 Anitha has been involved with the activities initiated by the Centre for Agricultural Media (CAM), based in Dharwad as its Managing Trustee. She also co-ordinates the correspondence course (in Kannada) in farm and rural journalism started by CAM.

18 Pandunrang Hegde, Appiko, SirsiPandurang Hegde has been at the forefront of ecological movements in Karnataka for thepast three decades. After his Masters Degree in Social Work from Delhi University, Pandurang Hegde jumped into the iconic Chipko Movement lead by Sundarlal Bahuguna and traveled by foot on a trans Himalayan March to spread the message of eco conservation. When he came back to his home town of Sirsi in Uttara Kannada District of Karnataka, he planted the same strategies and lead a historic people’s movement named Appiko against tree felling in the Western Ghats. The success of this campaign lead to many movements which he either lead or was on the front line. He has undertaken many Padayatras [foot marches] across the vast Western Ghats to inspire and involve people in the struggle for ecological restoration of Western Ghats. He wrote extensively on these movements and still continues to write on issues of ecology, biodiversity and organic farming. He was an Ashoka Fellow for a few years and now runs an NGO called PRAKRUTI from his home town Sirsi.

Oversight Panel

The oversight panel consists of senior level people from Civil Society as well as people with long standing record of public service. Their main role is to oversee that the entire process is carried out in an impartial way, without any bias in the process towards Farmers Jury.

Each event is reported back to OP and they are regularly updated with the entire process, keeping them informed as well as seeking their suggestions/comments leading to Farmers Jury. The members of Oversight Panel are:

Dr H Sudarshan Winner of the prestigious Right Livelihood Award [also known as
Alternative Nobel Prize] Dr H R Sudarshan pioneered the concept of
indigenous health systems as the way out of the public health crisis in
India by working with the Soliga tribes by establishing the Vivekananda
Girijana Kalyana Kendra [VGKK] in the Chamarajanagar area of
Karnataka. Later he established Karuna Trust in 1986 to further this
cause outside of Chamarajanagar. The Trust now runs 25 Primary Health
Care (PHC) Centres in all the districts of the state of Karnataka and nine
PHC's in Arunachal Pradesh.

Dr Gopal Kadekdi, An eminent development economist who headed the Institute of
Economic Growth at the Delhi University and later worked as the
Director of the prestigious Institute for Social and Economic Research,
Bangalore. He has written dozens of books on Development and
Economics. The latest being Development Karnataka : Issues of
Governance and Common Property Resources and Management

Dr Dwarakinath Formerly Chairman of Karnataka Agricultural Commission and Vice
Chancellor, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, Dr.
Dwarakinath is an eminent agricultural scientist who has received
several prestigious awards and has been a part of a number of policy
making panels including Karnataka State Planning Board.

Mr K R Venugopal, IAS, formerly Advisor to the Prime Minister and generally known as the Father of PDS in India, till recently Rapporteur to the National Human Rights Commission.

Dr Hanumantaiah A Dalit activist and writer, Shri Hanumanthaiah has authored many
books and edited the book on Jagjivan Ram. He is a product of Dalit and
Bandaya literary movement.

An outstanding speaker of dalit and peoples issues his tenure as Member
of Karnataka Legislature Council. His powerful articulation of dalit
women’s issues has moved the state to enact important laws

Smt Hemalata Mahishi An advocate by profession Ms Mahishi has been associated with
women’s movements focussing on legal literacy for women. She was
actively involved in formulating various laws on Dowry, against sexual
harassment in work place, women’s property rights. She has authored
many books on women and law and is a popular columnist. Formerly a
member of Karnataka Women’s Commission and a member of the Board
of Governors of the prestigious Institute for Social and Economic
Change in Bangalore.

Lalitha Naik Well known writer from the iconic Bandaya Sahitya [revolutionary
literature] Movement, Ms Naik is a novelist, poet, short story writer and
playwright. Her writings depict the situation of women in her Banjara
community, a nomadic indigenous tribe. Her political activism has taken
her close to the dalit struggles, literary protest movements and many
other social movements. She has been a member of the Karnataka State
Legislative Council as well as the Assembly. She also had a brief stint as
a minister of the Karnataka Cabinet in 1994. She is also been a
traditional artist and performer.

Resource Person and Advisor

Dr. Michel Pimbert is currently Director of the Sustainable Agriculture, Biodiversity and Livelihoods Program at the UK based International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED www.iied.org). An agricultural ecologist by training, he previously worked at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in India, the University François Rabelais de Tours in France, and the World Wide Fund for Nature in Switzerland. His action research focuses on food sovereignty, sustainable agriculture and citizenship; the political ecology of natural resource and biodiversity management; participatory methodologies and deliberative democratic processes. Over the last 25 years he has published extensively in these areas, linking theory with practice. Dr. Pimbert has been a Board member of several international NGOs working on food sovereignty, sustainable agriculture and human rights.

Farmers Jury: (FJ)

Farmers Jury will consist of 30 members. This will have state wide representation as well as it will represent men and women farmers. It will also have representation from Adivasi and Dalit committee and landless laborer.

Selection of Farmers Jury:

The members of steering committee will nominate farmers for the Jury. From about 100 such names/ nominations, the final list of 30 arrived by the criteria set by the Steering Committee.

From the 100 farmers, the Roshani Nilaya School of Social Work will interview each of these 100 farmers and select 30 according to the criteria. These final names will be endorsed by Steering Committee and oversight panel

Rudrappa M. Zulapi
Huliayala Post,
Jamkhandi Taluk,
Bagalkot District 587301
Age : 39 years
Caste : Gen
Ph : 08353 238016
Cell : 09901615773
A medium farmer Zulapi owns five acres
dry land and 10 acres irrigated land. He
grows sugarcane, red gram, turmeric,
wheat, vegetables and varieties of maize.
He uses natural farming method such as
Jeevamratha He has conserved local
varieties of eggplants [Brinjal] and wheat.
He has won many awards for his
creativity and hard work. He is regularly
invited to give lectures on natural
farming. He has even attended a farmers’
conference at Beijing, China.

Eraiah Killedar Kavithaprakashan
Gudikatti Post, Govinakoppa,
Belgaum. Taluk & District
Age: 51 years
Caste : Gen
Ph : 08288 235833
Cell : 09731575119
A marginal farmer Killedar owns 1.5 acres which he uses for his experiments in farming. There are more than 600 trees of different varieties medicinal, fruit, wood, honey preparation. He has vast knowledge about farming methods and writes on farmers issues to various newspapers and journals. He is also a poet.

Jayatanubi Peersab Nadaph
At/Post
Hulikoti Village,
Gadag Taluk & District
Age: 38 years
Caste : ST
Cell : 09449069155
The only farm labourer on the Jury,
Jayatanubi is a pastoralist and raises goats
for her living apart from working on other
people’s farms.

13.

Shivaganagmma B. Hosamani
Hirekoppa Post,
Gadag Taluk & District
Age: 52 years
Caste : OBC
Cell : 09900363962
A small farmer, Shivagangamma owns 6
acres of dry and depends completely on
rain for her farming. She grows onion, red
gram, chillies, green gram, maize and
cotton under dryland conditions. Her farm
is considered as a model farm by other
farmers.

14.

Shantimoole M.T.
Janani Jaivika Sangha, At/Post Pailoor Village,
Sulya Taluk,
Dakshin Kannada
District - 574 248
Age: 66 yearsPh : 08257 284601,320563
Cell : 09481845604
An organic farmer with a small
landholding, Shantimoole innovates
constantly and works on value addition to
his farm produce. He is also a renowned
bee farmer and the editor of a farm
journal ‘Madhuprapancha’[World of
Honey].

Siddarajappa
Susthira Savayava Krishikaru,
Kaggalur Village, Madapura Post,
Nanjangud Taluk,
Mysore District
Age: 46 years
Caste : Lingayat
Ph : 09972170082
On his three acres of dry land
Siddarajappa grows horse gram, paddy,
coconut, mango, vegetables in a fully
organic fashion. He is not only
knowledgeable on farmers issues but also
takes a lot of interest in participating on
farmers meetings and conferences

23.

Kallavva Malleshappa Haklad
Karadikoppa Post
Hubli Taluk
Dharwad District
Age: 55 years
Caste : OBC
Cell : 09902156165 / 09900575035
A small farmer, Kallavva raises Sorghum
[jowar], Cowpea, Black gram, fruits and
other horticultural plants and vegetables
on her farm both under raifed conditions
as well as using open well.

24.

Muniamma E. Varadayya
Gangammanahalli,
Chirabi Post,
Via Kottur Kudlagi Taluk
Bellary Dist 583134
Age: 52 years
Caste : OBC
Cell : 09008736150
Muniamma is a dalit farmer and owns
three acres of which two acres are dry and
one acre is under irrigated conditions. She
uses organic and natural farming methods
and grows Finger millet [Ragi], paddy
and vegetables. She also raises cows to
support her organic farming.

25.

Talavar Ajjappa.
Ramanayakanahalli
Haralu Post, Via Kottur
Kudligi Taluk,
Bellary Dist - 583134
Age : 25 years
Caste : ST
Ph : 09591267398
A tribal farmer Ajjappa owns 2.5 acres of
which one acre is dry land and another
one and half acre is irrigated. He grows
many varieties of maize and red gram.

Laxmi Siddhi
Shiragoan,
Kaggali Post,
Sirsi Taluk,
Uttara Kannada District
Age : 42 years
Caste : ST
Ph : 08283 245706
Cell : 0958283 240524
Coming from the tribal community of
Siddhis Laxmi farms on her 1.10 acre dry
land under totally organic methods and
grows paddy, coconut, sugarcane and
beetle nut. She is also a very good
craftsperson.

The specialist witness is from those who represent the Agricultural Research as well people from Civil Society Organisations. They may be representing government departments, Agricultural University, Farmers Organisation, consumer Organisation and bureaucracy.

Their main role is to address the Farmers Jury on the issue of Agricultural Research and its relevance to farmers.

The SW will defend their activities in the area of agricultural research. After hearing their defense the FJ will seek clarifications and deliberate on this issue before giving the verdict.

They are representatives of those organisations (World Bank, FAO, or ICAK) who are working on the issue of Agricultural Research and funding agricultural development process in the country. They were observes in the meeting